Driver hits cyclist, throwing teen off 41st Street overpass

EVERETT— An Everett man is under investigation for vehicular assault after he reportedly drove into a teenage cyclist Sunday night, knocking the boy off the 41st Street overpass and onto Broadway below.

The boy, believed to be 16, suffered a broken foot and a possible broken neck from the 30-foot fall, according to the arrest report. He was taken to a local hospital and is expected to survive, Everett police spokesman Aaron Snell said Monday.

The accident happened just after 10 p.m.

The driver, 52, reportedly told police he believed he had a seizure despite taking his epilepsy medication. He also allegedly told officers he had been drinking beer or wine a few hours before the crash.

The man’s 1999 Ford Ranger pickup was found up against the barrier on the westbound shoulder, facing eastbound, reports show. He was sitting in the driver’s seat with his eyes shut.

The boy’s girlfriend had been riding her bike about 50 feet behind him. She told officers she saw the Ford swerve into oncoming traffic and hit the boy.

Police believe the boy fell about 20 feet onto a hillside and then tumbled into the street.

The driver wasn’t hurt in the crash. He was booked into the Snohomish County Jail about 2:30 a.m. Monday.

At the scene, the driver reportedly had trouble standing and could not move his hands well. His speech was slurred, and his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, officers wrote in court papers.

The driver has no felony history in Washington. His bail was set at $25,000 Monday during a brief hearing in Everett District Court.